Richland boys, Chiawana girls dominating Tri-Cities basketball season

Friday marks the beginning of the second half of the Mid-Columbia Conference’s regular season for prep basketball, and we know a few things — not just about the MCC, but other levels.

First, Richland’s boys may be the best Class 4A team in the state; that Tri-Cities Prep has one of the better 2B boys teams in the state; and the Prosser girls have a legitimate shot at the 2A girls state title this year, again.

But let’s concentrate on the MCC.

Earl Streufert’s Richland boys have yet to have a close game in the MCC.

Now 12-0, the Bombers have hit the 100-point century mark five times already.

Todd Milles’ Varsity WA poll has Richland ranked No. 1 in the state.

With Landen Northrop and Lance Horntvedt leading the team, Richland has been dominant.

Case in point: Saturday’s 101-43 win at Hermiston. Horntvedt scored 40 points on 16 of 20 shooting. He added 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Northrop, meanwhile, added 24 points on 8 of 10 shooting, and tossed in another 8 assists.

Not far behind are Chad Herron’s Chiawana boys, who sit at 11-1 (the only loss to Richland).

The thing impressive about the Riverhawks is there is a balanced look to their scoring. Yes, Benji Larios has either led Chiawana in scoring, or shared as the top scorer, in 6 games. Gage Williams, who has recently gotten hot, has been the leader or co-leader in 4 games. Messiah Guy, Ender Douglas, Santana Sifuentes and Jermell Heavens have been leaders or co-leaders in one or two contests.

Here is a look at the latest MCC boys standings: 1. Richland (4A) 9-0 MCC, 12-0 overall

2. Chiawana (4A) 8-1, 11-1

3. Kamiakin (4A) 6-3, 9-3

3. Kennewick (3A) 6-3, 8-4

5. Southridge (3A) 4-5, 6-5

6. Walla Walla (3A) 3-6, 6-6

6. Sageview (3A) 3-6, 5-7

8. Hanford (4A) 2-7, 4-8

8. Hermiston (3A) 2-7, 3-8

8. Pasco (4A) 2-7, 2-9

Jan. 9 scores — Chiawana 99, Sageview 59; Kamiakin 52, Kennewick 49; Pasco 69, Hanford 61; Richland 100, Walla Walla 53; Southridge 65, Hermiston 48.

Jan. 10 scores — Kamiakin 64, Southridge 53; Kennewick 78, Sageview 69; Richland 101, Hermiston 43; Walla Walla 64, Pasco 49.

Jan. 13 score — Chiawana 81, Hanford 54.

Jan. 16 (all times 7:30 p.m.) — Chiawana at Walla Walla; Hanford at Sageview; Kamiakin at Richland; Pasco at Hermiston; Southridge at Kennewick.

Jan. 17 (all times at 5 p.m.) — Hermiston at Richland; Rogers-Spokane at Pasco.

Gary Jonas’ Chiawana Riverhawks are rolling, unbeaten at 12-0 in the MCC girls standings and holding a 2-game lead over Southridge.

The two Riverhawk seniors — Baylee Maldonado and Gianna Medelez — have already committed to four-year schools. Maldonado is headed to Central Washington University, and just this week, Medelez announced her commitment to Whitworth.

Derrek Lete’s Southridge Suns are 2 games behind Chiawana in the standings. But the state is starting to recognize how good the Suns are. Varsity WA has Southridge ranked No. 5 in the latest 3A girls poll.

With just one senior on the roster, the Suns are getting it done with underclassmen.

Olivia Mercado leads the team in scoring at 12.0 points a game. She’s also the team’s top rebounder with 6.7 a contest.

Lete’s squad is a tough, aggressive team which is not afraid of fouling an opponent. Three of the top seven players in MCC fouls are from Southridge.

Here are the latest MCC girls basketball standings: 1. Chiawana (4A) 9-0 MCC, 12-0 overall

2. Southridge (3A) 7-2, 10-2

3. Richland (4A) 6-3, 8-4

3. Kennewick (3A) 6-3, 7-4

5. Hermiston (3A) 5-4, 7-5

5. Kamiakin (4A) 5-4, 7-5

7. Walla Walla (3A) 4-5, 5-7

8. Pasco (4A) 2-7, 3-9

9. Hanford (4A) 1-8, 2-10

10. Sageview (3A) 0-9, 0-10

Boys notes

Thanks to Parker Hodge for the compiled stats, we can see who the top five scorers are in the MCC boys (with minimum of 6 games): 1, Daniel Trotenya, Kennewick, 27.0 points; 2, Lance Horntvedt, Richland, 26.5; 3, Landen Northrop, Richland, 24.6; 4, Jakarri Ellis, Sageview, 21.1; 5, Nick Williamson, Southridge, 18.6. … Trotenya is also the top rebounder in the league with 13.1 a game. … Northrop dishes out an MCC-best 5.0 assists, while Pasco’s Max Valencia is averaging 2.3 steals. … Horntvedt has already committed to Eastern Washington University next year. … Tri-Cities Prep’s Layne McClure just crossed the 1,000-career points mark for the Jaguars. Trotenya did that on Jan. 3. …

Varsity WA’s No. 1 teams this week are Richland (4A), Rainier Beach (3A), Bremerton (2A), Zillah (1A), Colfax (2B), and Lummi (1B). Chiawana is ranked No. 6 in 4A, Grandview is No. 10 in 2A, Royal is No. 4 in 1A, and TC Prep is No. 3 in 2B. In 1B, Liberty Christian (12-0) is ranked fourth, DeSales is sixth, and Sunnyside Christian is eighth.

Girls notes

Chiawana has been able to pick up another game on its schedule and it’s a good one. The Riverhawks (12-0) will host Mead (11-1) at 2 p.m. this Saturday. … Top five scorers in the MCC are as follows (minimum 6 games): 1, Baylee Maldonado, Chiawana, 17.7; 2, Rylee Bendewald, Kennewick, 17.6; 3, Kailee Maldonado, Chiawana, 17.0; 4, Taylor Schumacher, Kamiakin, 15.0; 5, Leilani Sanders, Pasco, 14.1. … Kamiakin’s Alayna Kiel is the leading rebounder at 11.5 per game; while Richland’s Kylee Kukes is the top passer, with 4.5 assists a contest. … Hermiston’s Lucy Teegarden has verbally committed to playing next season for Lewis-Clark State College. …

Here are Varsity WA’s top teams in the latest girls’ poll: Davis (4A), Bellevue (3A), Lynden (2A), Zillah (1A), Reardan (2B), and Neah Bay (1B). Area teams in the polls are Chiawana ranked No. 8 in 4A, Southridge is No. 5 in 3A, and Prosser is No. 3 and Grandview No. 9 in 2A. Royal has a No. 8 ranking in 1A.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.